Automatic-sprinkler-system control



April 22 1924.

J. J. GRAFFLIN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER .SYSTEM CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet lApril 22 1924o 1,491,301

J. J. GRAFFLIN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM CONTROL Filed April 25 1921 2ShBBtB-Sht 2 CTI Lili

Patented Apr. 22, lSZsh UNETSD TTS FTNT FCE@ JOHN J. GRFFLN, DE'ATLANTA, GEQRGI.

A UTOMAaC-SPEIlTKLR-SYSTEN CONTROL.

application filed April 25, 1921.

To all co 710m t may concern Be it known that l, JOHN J. GnArrLiN, a

heads would at times be burst due to reeZ-y ing` of water it they `werenormally tilled with water. ln systems of the dry pipe type as nowemployed, the pipes are filled .with compressed air maintained bysuitable apparatus. The marin control valve which normally holds hackthe water is located in a suitable protected space usually in thecellar.

Upon the opening of a. sprinkler head, due

to fire at some point controlled byr the system, the air pressure dropsand thereby automatically opens the main control valve. Systems oi thistype arejsubject'to certa-in disadvantages well recognized in practice`such as condensation oi' water in the pipes which are supposedl to bekept dry, and the diiiiculty of maintaining' theV system in pronerworking order.

lily invention relates more particularly to dry pipe systems in which apartialvacuum is maintained in the sprinkler pipes.

ln applying this principle to practical construction, there are a numberot'special features of importance such asl the automatic maintenance ofthe vacuum, the method ot actuating the main control valve when thevacuum is broken, and the resetting' of this valve to reestablish normalconditions in the system. struction. and operation, lay-which these andother desired results are accomplished, may, of course, he quitevariable, but, to clearly set forth the principles involved so thatthose skilled in the arm may understand and practice my invention, Ishall describe, by way oit example, one embodiment'thereot which isshown in the accompanying drawings.`

The details ot con-f Serial lo. 465.2%.

in said drawings: s

yFigure l represents, principally in` vertical section, the main controlvalve with its connected and related parts for governing its action.

Figure 2 is a detailed, vertical section through a portion of' the mainvalve housing `or chamber showing a vertical section through the stopcock, which controls the ports leading to and from the main controlvalve.

l'J`i, furel is an outside elevation of the main valve chamber and itsgoverning stop cock.

Figure i is a horizontal section taken on the line @Li-el et Figurelyshowing one method ot' actuating the governing stop cock.

Figure 5 is a. horizontal section through the stop cock showing some or"the details ot the ports and passages governed thereby.f f

Figure G is a vertical section o1e the same taken lenfrthwise et thestop cock.

Figures 7, t3 and 9 are detailed transverse sections of the same on thelines 27H7, 88 and 9 9 respectively et Figure G. ln all the views, the vrions part-s, with the exception olf the in4 in gate valve, areindicated as being n their normal positions, with the vacuum on, and thesvstem ready to respond.

The system here shown'comprises the main control valve1 whichv ishydraulically opened and closed, the governing stop cock which controlsthe water passages leading to and from the main control valve and vacuumpassages 'communicating with the sprinkler pipe, an automatic actuatingmechanism for the governing' stop cock thrown into action upon thedefinite breaking ot the vacuum, and a vacuum pump actuated to maintainthe normal vacuum within the system by '-efns ot automatic controlVresponsive to all pressure changes within the system.

ln Figures l and 3, l0 indicates the waterr main` ll an ordinarygatevalve which may he operated at will to open or close the Watermalin` and l2 indicates the main: control valve housingl constructed inaccordance with in v invention. This valve housing constitutes a portionof the pipe leading` to lOl) the sprinkler system. In.; construction, it

may, lor example, comp-rise in addition to its outer chamber an innerbase member 13V naensoi leads into a passage 57, 58 formed in the mainvalve housing 12, as clearly shown in Figure 2, and into the space abovethe valve seat 18 where normally a vacuum, is to be maintained. Thepassages just described are, in fact, the exhaust passages through whichair is withdrawn from the system above the valve seat 18 by means of anysuit-able form of vacuum pump of which an example will now beldescribed.

From the port or passage 56 above mentioned, the vacuum pipe 60 leadsthrough a container 61, mercury pipe 62, container 63 and pipe 64 intoay vacuum pump 65 operated by `flow of water through nozzle 66. Thiswater may be led otf from kpipe 52 at the T 53 and carried through pipe67 `under the control of a.l spring-returned` valve 68 as shown clearlyin Figure 1. Upon opening the spring-returned valve 68, the flow ofwater occurs through nozzle 66, exhausting t-he vacuum system throughthei column of mercury in mercury pipe 62. The mercury is, during thatoperation, drawn into the container 63 in whichr the air passes throughit and\y from which it drops back into the pipe 62 with the action of acheck valve. llhen the action of the pump ceases or is so reduced as topermit the pressure in chamber 63 to exceed that in the system on theopposite side of the mercuryy column, the mercury in the lett hand sideof the pipe 62, which constitutes a U-tube, will stand higher than thatin the right. hand side, this difference in level between the two sidesindicating, of course, the vacuum within the sprinkler syst-em when `thepressure in container 63 is substantially atmospheric.. The maintenanceof this vacuum is, however, automatically controlled under normalconditions by a. special actuating means for the spring-returned valve68. i

This actuating means is clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings ascomprising a pivoted lever 7() provided with an arm 71 tor engaging the?valve handle or arm 72. One endet the lever 70 maybe weighted by a fixedor manually adjusted weight 73. The other end may be weighted by anautomatically varied weight comprising, Jfor eX- aniple, a mercury pan 74 containing a body of mercury 75. rllhe volume of this mercury and itsconsequent mass effective in weighting the lever-70 is under the controlof an inverted bell 76 immersed in, t-he mercury and communicating atits top through pipe 7 i, assage 78 (in block 30 of stop cock 37)transverse passage 46 of the stop cock, passage 79. pipe 80 and port 81with the vaccum space within the pipe 19 of the sprinkler 'vater system.As the degree of vacuum, within the system varies, the mercury containedinr the-inverted bell 76 will rise or fall, thus varying the weightborne by the end of lever 70 and causing the lever arm 71 to open orpermit closing of thev springreturned valve 68. 4For example, if thevacuum gets below a predetermined norma-l, the effective weight ofmercury admitted into the pan 74 is sufficient to open valve 68. andcause water to flow through the vacuum pump65, thus further exhaustingthe space above the valve seat 18. i

Upon complete and definite vl'n'eaking ot the vacuum by opening of asprinkler head, the governing stop cock 37 is turned through 90 degreesto discharge the water from within the piston valve 17, as alreadymentioned. This operation of the stop cock may be et fected by anactuating weight which is carried by arms 42, 43 mounted on the squaredstuds 38, 39 ofthe plug 37. This weight 85, may, for example,befpivotally connected with the arms 42, 43 by bolt or rod 86. rThe freeends `of the arms 42, 43 straddle the weight 85 which latter has freepivotal movement on its pivot 86to the. eX- tent permitted by pins 87,88, which come into engagement with the said arms. This constructionpermits lost `motion otr the weight 85 upon its pivot 86, when tripped,so that it has opportunity of developing some momentum prior toencountering the frictional resistance of turning the stop cock.Normally, the weight may be supported, for example, by a hook 89engaging a latch 90 whose position is controlled by an automatic lever91. This lever 91 is generally similar to the lever 70, already4described andmay, for example, have a fixed or manually adjustableweight 92 counterbalancing a mercury pan weight 93 in which the weightof mercury eiiective on the lever is under the control of inverted bell94, the upper portion of which communicates through pipe 95 with thevacuum pipe 77 already described. This mercury pan weight is set tooperate on the complete or definite breaking of the vacuum by theopening of one of thefsprinkler heads, whereupon the pan 93 depressesits vend of the lever 91 to remove latch 9() from the hook 89,.A A dashpot or liquid cushion 96 may be' emf ployed to bring the lever to rest.Upon release of hook 89 from latch 90, the weight 85 tirst swings on itspivot 86 until the pins 88 engage the free ends ot the arms 42, 43,whereupon the stop cock 37 is turned as the weight descends into thepositionshown in dotted lines in Figure 1. Aspring or other cushioningmember 97 may be provided to prevent shock at the end of this movement.

The operation of the device may be brietly described as Jfollows.Assuming the parts in their normal positions as shown inthe drawings.slight loss of vacuum withinv the system will open the spring-returnedvalve 68 to actuate the vacuum pumpand restore the vacuum to normal.Definite breaking next response. Y

of the vacuum will admit atmospheric pressure into the system, whereuponthe mei'- cury in the inverted bell v94 empties into pan 93 throwing thelatch 90 out of engagement. with hook 89. Weight thereupon swings on itspivot 86 until pins 88 engage the outer, free ends ot' levers 42, 43,and the continued-descent of the Weight 85 swings the stop cock 87through an arc of 90 degrees. In this position of the stop cock. the'hydraulic space Withinthe valve 17 is thrown open to the outside, thuspermitting Water to discharge through outlets 23, 33, 45, 47 into drainpipe 48. The piston valve 17 thereupon descends and admits the Waterfrom the main 10 into the sprinkler system. As the valve 17 descends, itcloses the outlet 23 so that it is brought to rest Without shock or jarby reason of the trapped Water and air within the hydraulic chamber.Passages 24, 34 and 35, 36 are already closed by the turning ot the stopcock. This saine action of the stop cock brought the transverse passage46 thereof into registry with a passage 98, 99 ot the block 99 andclosed the vacuum passages 78, 7 9 of the block. It also closed thevacuum passage 55, 56 (see Figures 9 and 7). The passages 98, 99 placethe interior of the main valve housing 12 in conimunication with pipe100 leading to the usual Water motor alarm.

lVhen it is ldesired to turn oil' the Water and reset the apparatus, thegate valve 11 is closed, the valve 21 opened until all Water above thisvalve has been drained out, valve 21 closed, the Weight 85 is liftedthrough 45 degrees to bring the transverse passage 44 of the stock cock37 into registry with the Water passages 49 and 59, as alreadydescribed, Vthereby admitting Water into the hydraulic chamber beneaththe main valve 17 and causing the latter to be litted intonorinalposition against its seat. llVlien this has been effected, theWeight is `further raised into the position shown in the drawings, sothat the parts are restored again to their normal positions. The maingate valve may then be opened, and as soon as the vacuum has beenrestored, the system is readyy for the I claim: 1. A valve mechanism torsprinkler systems comprising in combination a Water pipe, a main controlvalve for controllinq` the flow of Water thru said pipe. means forapplying water pressure to said valve to close the same and hold itclosed. means for normally maintaining a. vacuum in said pipe beyondsaid main con-trol valve, and means for relieving the Water pressurefrom said control valve to cause the opening of the same upon definitebreaking of the vacuum.

2. A valve mechanism for sprinkler svsteins comprising incombination aWater pipe.r a hydraulically operated main contro-l valve forcontrolling the supply of Water thru said pipe, a conduit connectingsaid valve with the Water supply, a conduit connecting said valve Withthe atmosphere and means for opening the. first mentioned conduit andsimultaneously closing the second mentioned ronduit to cause the closureof the valve.

8. A valve mechanism for dry pipe sprinkler systems comprising incombination a water pipe, a main control valve therein, means forhydraulically closing said control valve, means for normally maintaininga vacuum in said Water pipe beyond said control valve, and meansgoverned by the delinite breaking of said vacuum for opening saidhydraulically actuated valve.

4. A valve mechanism for dry pipe sprinkler systems comprising incombination Water pipe1 a main control valve therein, means forproducing a vacuum in said Water pipe beyond said control valve, meansresponsive to small changes of pressure in said vacuum for controllingthe operation ot said vacuum. producing means, and means responsive to adeiinite breaking otsaid vacuum, for openingsaid main control valve.

A valve mechanism 'for dry pipe sprinkler systems comprising incombination a Water pipe, a main control valve therein, means forproducing a vacuum in said Water pipe beyond said control valve, meansresponsive to small changes ot pressure in said vacuum 'for controllingthe operation of said vacuum producing means, and means responsive to adetinite breakingl of said vacuum. but not responsive to small changesot pressure in said vacuum, 'toiopening said main control valve.

6. A valve mechanism ttor dry pipe sprin ier systems comprising incombination a main control valve, a Water pipe in which the supply oi'water is under the control oi' said main Control valve, means fornormally maintaining a vacuum in said water pipe beyond said maincontrol valve, and a mercury check valve through which said vacuumproducing means withdraws air from said Water pipe in producing saidvacuum.

7. i valve mechanism for dry pipe spri: der systems comprising incombination a Water pipe, a main control valve therefor. means normallyconnected With sain-pipe bevond the control valve for maint inga vacuumtherein, and means tor simultaneously opening said control valve anddisconnecting said vacuum producing means. f

8. A. valve mechanism for dry pipe inkl-er systems comprising incombinaivater pipe, a main control valve or. means normally connectedWith pipe beyond the control valve for maintaining a vacuum therein, andmeans controlled by the vacuum for opening said control valve anddisconnecting said vacuum producing means when the vacuum is broken.

control means when the vacuum is broken.,

l0. A valve mechanism for dry pipe sprinkler systems, comprising incombination a Water pipe, a main control valve therefor, means normallyconnected with said pipe beyond the control valve for maintaining avacuum therein and means controlled by the vacuum comprising a balancedtripping device having a liquid receptacle the weight of which isaffected by changes in the vacuum to imbalance said tripping device andopen said control valve When the vacuum is broken.

1l. A valve mechanism for dry pipe sprinkler systems, comprising apiston main control valve designed to be held closed by the hydraulicpressure and to open When said pressure is removed, a cylinder in whichsaid valve moves, an auxiliary valve controlled by the air pressure inthe dry pipe, a passage leading from the said cylinder to said auxiliaryvalve, a passage leading from said auxiliary valve to the Water supplyand the atmosphere to allovs7 the Water pressure to enter the cylinderwhen the control valve is to be closed and to leave the cylinder whenthe control valve is to be opened.

12. A valve mechanism for dry pipe sprinkler systems, comprisingincombination a Water pipe, a main control va ve therein, means forproducing a vacuum in said Water pipe beyond said control valve, anauxiliary valve controlling the ovv of Water to and from said maincontrol valve, restraining means for holding said auxiliary valve inposition to keep the main control valve closed and means actuated by abreak in the vacuum to trip said restraining means.

JOHN J. GRAFFLIN.

